BOARMID^—HIBERNIA. 243 



Or — Ground colour yellowish-green, full green, or some- 

 times dark olive ; dorsal and subdorsal lines varying with 

 the ground colour, in the darkest specimens becoming much 

 suffused, and interrupted at the segmental divisions by a 

 dark brown transverse band ; two large round dark spots on 

 the second segment ; on the back of each of the other seg- 

 ments a dark brown mark, compared by Mr. Buckler to two 

 leaves pointing forward, with a short stem between them ; 

 and preceded by two black dots ; subdorsal lines bordered 

 below with dark dashes. (Rev, J. Hellins.) 



Another variety has been figured by Mr. Buckler in which 

 the ground colour is pale purple, with similar markings ; and 

 it is not easy to indicate the full extent of fluctuation in 

 colour to which this larva is liable, 



April to the end of May or beginning of June on oak, 

 when very young hollowing out the buds ; afterwards draw- 

 ing together two leaves with a few threads of silk for con- 

 cealment, and feeding upon the leaves ; when well grown 

 feeding exposed, Hofmann states that it also feeds on 

 aspen. 



Pupa dull reddish-brown ; provided with a slender spike 

 on the cremaster, (Hofmann.) Not further described. In 

 the earth. The winter is passed in this state. 



The moth sits in the daytime on the trunks of trees, pre- 

 ferring, besides oaks, Scotch fir, or birch-trees where these 

 are available, especially during cold or windy weather, when 

 it squeezes closely into the great chinks of the bark and sits 

 as flatly pressed to the surface as possible. Also it loves 

 the dead leaves which stick so long upon oak bushes, and 

 sometimes on the trees, hiding in the same manner in the 

 hollows of the crumpled and withered leaves, but from these 

 it may be beaten out, and if the weather is sunny or very 

 mild, may then be induced to fly hurriedly away, to settle 

 on similar dead leaves, or on those lying upon the ground. 

 Where a fence is suitably situated it is not despised. The 



